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If mini-bulk sampling recovers a significant number of commercial-size diamonds, progressive stages of bulk sampling are required in order to estimate the grade and average value of the diamonds to establish the economic value of the kimberlite pipe. Sampling a wide area of the pipe is necessary in order to obtain a representative understanding of the diamond content of the entire body.
Diamonds recovered at this stage are studied and evaluated for size, clarity and colour, to determine the average market value. A typical population of diamonds recovered from an economic kimberlite contains the entire range of diamond quality, from industrial through to top gem quality. Because gem-quality diamonds are considerably more valuable than near-gem or industrial diamonds, the number of diamonds in the kimberlite can be less important than their quality. Therefore a low-grade kimberlite with a high proportion of gem-quality stones can be more valuable than a high-grade kimberlite with a low percentage of gem-quality diamonds.
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